Conveyer



sept. 16, 1941.

C. ADAMS'ON CONVEYER Filed My 15, 1940 INVENTOR Y Gema Win-u. Bd-SMCLWLLLQ ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 16, 1941 UNITED ASTATES `lwrsnrorifice Clarence Adamson, Aurora, Ill., assigner to Redler ConveyorCompany, Quincy,v Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application May15, 1940, serial No. 335,274

' s claims. (c1. 19a-'9174) This invention relates to a conveyer and toa conveying element therefor.

The invention has for one of its objects to provide a novel and improvedconveyer of the horizontal type particularly adapted for the conveyanceof nowable solid material in which provision is made for supporting theconveying element with relation to the casing through which it is drawnin a manner such as to enable the conveyer to perform the conveyingoperation with maximum efnciency. n

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedconveying element of a construction such as to enable the same to bedrawn through the casing in a manner such as to substantially equalizethe strain upon the flights and connections and to reduce to a minimumany twisting or cramping action ofthe parts when conveying a load ofmaterial through the casing.

With these general objects in view and such others as may hereinafterappear, the invention consistsin the conveyer and in the conveyingelement hereinafter described and particularly denned in the claims atthe end of this specincation. f g Q In the drawing illustrating thepreferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a plan view of aconveyer embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-section onthe line 2 2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a perspective detail View of'aportion of the present conveying element.

In general, the present conveyer contemplates an improvement in theconveyer illustrated and described in the United States patent toSinden, No. 2,155,874, April 29, 1939, which comprises a conveyerparticularly adapted for conveying material in a general horizontaldirection, and as illustrated in said patent includes a casing or troughand a conveying element made up of a plurality of detachably connectedlinks having integral U-shaped nights. The conveying element is arrangedto be driven by sprockets arranged to engage hub portions disposed atthe top of one of the arms of each of the U-shaped nights.

Prior to the present invention, the conveying element was constructedwith the hub portions of the tension links disposed substantially inalignment with one of the legs of the U-shaped night. In practice, useof this construction of conveyer exerted a cramping action upon theconnecting links when the conveyer was operating under a load, andsubjected the different tended to twist the tension links out Vofalignment, thus interfering `with the most enicient operation of theconveyer.

In accordance with the present invention, the hub portions of thetension element formed by the connected tension links'are 4disposedycen-- trally of the trough thereby equalizing the strain upon thenights during the operation of the conveyer, whereby the cramping andtwisting action heretofore experiencedis reduced to a minimum.

Referring noW to "the drawing, in the preferred and illustratedembodiment of the'inve'ntion, the conveyer comprises a horizontallydisposed casing or trough I Ugherein shown as Vextending in a generalrectangular path and with the corner portions l2 curved as illustrated.The casing may and preferably will be provided with theusual inlet i4'and outlet I6, as illustrated. The conveyer is further provided with aconveying element i8 preferably of open structure disposed therein andcapable of being moved therethrough to effect the conveyance of'nowablesolid material through the trough. rI'he conveying element I8, as hereinillustrated,v is made up of a plurality of connected links 20comprising'the tension element, each link 20 being provided witha'U-shaped flight member 2| formed integrally therewith. Each tension'.link 20 is provided at one end with a slotted hub 22 of generalcylindrical shape and at the otherend withv a lug or boss 24 which isadapted to be received Within the 'hollow hub 22 of the nextv succeedinglink of the tension element.

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, one leg 2,6 of each U-shaped nightmember is made longer than the other extending above the level of thematerial 28 in the trough l 0, and having its upper portion 29 extendedinwardly at an angle and connected to the hub portion 22 of the tensionlink 20. As herein shown, the hub portion 22 of each tension element isdisposed centrally of the trough.

Provision is made for supporting the conveying element as it is beingdrawn through the trough and as herein shown, the bottom of each hubportion 22 is arranged to slide along an elongated rail 30 supported ina guide comprising angle members 32, 34 depending from the underside ofthe cover member 36 of the conveyer casing.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, in order to drive theconveyer, the conveying element is arranged to pass around sprockets 38,at least one of which may b e driven parts of the nights to unequalstrain, and this from any suitable source of power such as an theoperating parts as the conveying element is drawn through the casing, soas to enable the Yconveyer to perorm its operations with maixmumefliciency.

While the preferred embodiment ofV .the invention has been hereinillustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention maybe em' bodied'in other forms within the scope ofthe following' claims.,l .Y l Having thus described the invention, lwhat is claimed iss- Y"1.' For use in a conveyor for conveying flowable solid material, having1a casing, a Vconveying elenient traversable therethrough,said conveyingelement comprising a plurality of connected units veachcomprising anopen flight'member extended transversely of the casing anda tension linkdisposed'd above and substantially centrally of the 2. Forj'use in laconveyor for conveying ,-fiowable solid material, havinga casing, aconveying element traversableV therethrough, said conveying.elementcomprising a'plural-ity of connected units each comprising aplurality of spaced nights each .extendin'g'transverrsely of thecasingand flight Vconnecting means disi'msed above and ysubstanl.- 'tial-ly.centrally of :the flights.

3. For use vin a conveyer for conveying howable solid material, having acasi-ng., a conveying element traversable therethrough', .said conveying,Y Aelement comprising aiplurality of connected units leach comprising aplurality/'of .spaced open flights each extending transversely oi thecasing' and `flight connectingY means ldisposed above and `substantiallycentrally of the flights.

4. For use in a conveyer for .conveying flowable solid material, `havinga casing, a conveying elefment traversable therethrough, said conveyingelementcomprising a plurality of connected units CII will be obf 1 jserved that the present construction of convey-` VVing element isadapted to equalize the strain upon t each comprising an open nightmember extended transversely of the casing and a tension link disposedabove and substantially centrally ,of the lightvmember, and a trackmounted uponthe upper wall of the casing along which said flight Yconnecting means is arranged to travel.

l 5. For use in a conveyer for conveying lowable solid material, havinga casing, a conveying element traversable therethrough, said conveyingelement comprising a plurality of connected units each comprising anopen U-shaped flight member extended transversely of the casing and atension 'link disposed above and substantially centrally y vof theflight member and connected to one leg thereof. f Y

6. For .use ina conveyer for conveying flowable solid material', havinga casing, a conveying eles l mentY traversable ltherethrough, saidconveying element comprising a plurality of connected units eachcomprising an openVU-shaped flight member extended transversely Yof thecasing, vand aV tension link comprising a longitudinally extendedmember-disposed'substantially `centrally of the lflightnand(connected toone leg of said U-shaped ight member a substantial distance above the Ynormal'level lof the material being conveyed..v

ment -traversable therethrough, said ,conveying element comprising aplurality of'connected units each comprising an open night memberextended transversely of the casing-and anVV integral tension linkdisposed `above and substantially centrally of said ilight memben'and asup-port carried by the casing for said conveying-element along Whichsaid tensionA links are arranged to slide. l Y f "8. For use in aconveyerf-for conveying flou/able Solid material, having a casingaconveying ele'-- Vment traversable therethrough, said conveying elementcomprising a plurality of connected units each comprising an openU-"shaped flight member extended transverselyoi the casing and a tensionlink disposed above and substantially central-1y of said flight memberand connected to oneleg thereof, and means for maintaining saidconveying element in'predetermined vertical relation to the casingcomprising an elongated track-disposed centrally of the casing and asub- Stalitial distance yabove the normal level of the material beingconveyed. f v Y I y Y CLARENCE ADAMSON.

